Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints over Alex Smith, according to a report.

San Diego-based Sports Illustrated writer Jim Trotter tweeted Wednesday evening that Jim Harbaugh informed Smith of his decision and that it was not due to the former No. 1 overall pick's recent concussion.

Just over an hour after Trotter's tweet, a producer with ESPN followed up with a tweet that complicates matters:

Trotter Tweet: BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.

Seth Markman: Alex Smith just told @TDESPN that Harbaugh told him Kaepernick would get 1st team reps but door open to start game based on practice

Trotter: i have great respect for @TDESPN and alex smith, and stand behind my report. harbaugh to alex: "I'm going with Kaepernick. Alex, I'm sorry."

In his first career NFL start last Monday, Kaepernick passed for 243 yards and threw two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 49ers' blowout win over the Bears. Smith has passed for 1,731 yards and put together a 13/5 TD/INT ratio before sustaining a concussion in the 49ers' tie with the Rams on Nov. 11.

UNR Wolfpack representin’! Kaepernick had a great game against the Bears, but he’s still quite young and raw. I would love to see him starting for the Niners in a couple of years, but thst’s a whole lot to be putting on his shoulders right now. He was a close second to Cam Newton in their senior year two years ago, and I’d love to see those kind of numbers from him in the pros. Plus, he’s from Turlock!

UNR Wolfpack representin’! Kaepernick had a great game against the Bears, but he’s still quite young and raw. I would love to see him starting for the Niners in a couple of years, but thst’s a whole lot to be putting on his shoulders right now. He was a close second to Cam Newton in their senior year two years ago, and I’d love to see those kind of numbers from him in the pros. Plus, he’s from Turlock!

Why a couple of years? The 49ers need a QB now. Alex Smith has a very limited range of what he can do, and he can’t lead an offense. It’s only one game, but Kaepernick can make passes that Alex Smith couldn’t do in 8 years. The 49ers never should have allowed themselves to come into this season without a first string quarterback, but maybe now they have one.

It’s somewhat unfair Smith would be benched after a 25 of 27 stretch, but Smith got more chances than any other QB in NFL history. 6 years of awful play and they kept giving him another chance. He’s just not an NFL-caliber QB.

Cam Newton could come in as a starter primarily because his team sucked and there was no one else to fill the role. The Niners are definitely playoff bound and Smith has been there before and showed he was at least adequate. We’ll see how Colin does against the Saints. I just think he could use a little more seasoning. And believe me, I have no desire to see Smith there much longer. He is not a franchise player by any means, and he is clearly no longer the team’s future.

This is Kaepernick’s 2nd year, not his rookie year. Smith hamstrung what the offense can do because of his limited skills and ability to make turnovers, unless the plays they called were severely limited. Last year, they needed every other part of the team to play fantastic to make up for Smith. They can’t always count on that. Agreed, the 49ers should have come into the season with more options at QB. I thought Johnson would be the starter. [By the way, there are 31 other teams in the NFL, but none of them wanted Smith. Two teams worked out Smith, and they went running in the other direction] Having said all that, Smith seems like a nice guy.

I’ve been a 49er fan all my life... I think this will be a good move for them. Harbaugh has been able to coach Alex Smith up to the “do no harm” point, but I don’t see him going beyond it. OTOH, Kaepernick on Monday night showed quickness, an ability to read defensive schemes and raw talent that Smith simply doesn’t have.

11
posted on 11/22/2012 3:23:09 AM PST
by ScottinVA
(I've never been more disgusted with American voters.)

The Niners are definitely playoff bound and Smith has been there before and showed he was at least adequate.

Adequate doesn't cut it in the post-season, though. The most painful part of the NFC Championship Game wasn't Kyle Williams' fumble - it was knowing that the 49ers wouldn't be able to convert on 3rd down at the end with Smith at QB. Smith puts together nice completion numbers in the regular season running the training-wheel passing offense that Harbaugh and Greg Roman trust him with.

But that doesn't work again good defenses which stop Frank Gore and force Smith to throw. Kaepernick is raw and will make mistakes - but he can make throws Smith never has. He lets Harbaugh and Roman take off the training wheels.

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